Aquarium Chillers: Selection And Types

2023 Author: Molly Page | [email protected]. Last modified: 2023-11-27 22:49

A constant, suitable temperature is essential for the health of your aquarium inhabitants. Sudden changes in temperature can lead to stress, which will increase your animals' susceptibility to infection and disease.

Aquarium, marine and reef assemblies contain equipment (water pumps and lighting) that is sufficient to heat the water. Without a cooler, the water in an aquarium can heat up so much that it can no longer hold the oxygen needed by the inhabitants.

If you need a cooler, then plan to install it in your system as early as possible. Coolers are outdoor units, often with tubes, which will require adequate clearance and ventilation anyway. During operation, such devices give out a lot of heat, so they cannot be placed very close to the aquarium, there is simply no point, they will reheat the water. It can also cause the chiller to overheat and not work properly.

Tulle apogon (Pterapogon kauderni)

The word "cooler" itself is rather a misnomer. The cooler does not produce cold, it just removes the heat. The heat dissipation capacity of this unit is measured in BTU (British Thermal Units). One BTU will heat about 0.5 liters of water by 1 degree Fahrenheit. Accordingly, a device with a high BTU value will remove heat from the aquarium faster than a similar one, but with a lower one. Chillers work like refrigerators or air conditioners. The cooled gas takes heat from the water and enters the radiator, where it is cooled by a fan.

Types of water coolers

Thermoelectric. Quiet, energy efficient chillers designed for use in small freshwater and saltwater aquariums (less than 200L) or species aquariums with low flow. Thermoelectric coolers are not effective in aquariums with strong currents.

Linear. Designed for large aquariums with linear filtration, these units cool already filtered water and are mainly used in marine aquariums. Chillers are available in various sizes (1/5 and 1/3 HP) and are ideal for systems that require very little space and simple installation.

Falling. They are mainly used in marine aquariums. They have a nozzle that fits directly into a dry / wet filter. Various sizes. Ideal for space-constrained systems and easy to install.

What should be considered when choosing a cooler?

When choosing a chiller, you need to consider the size of your aquarium, the setup of your aquarium, the amount of equipment in the aquarium and the heat it generates. Calculating the amount of temperature your aquarium can produce and the temperature your inhabitants need is very important. Also, when choosing a chiller, you need to calculate the pull-down value you need. To do this, subtract your desired temperature from the maximum summer temperature you expect. Here's a sample of how to calculate pull-down:

Approximate maximum temperature - desired aquarium temperature = pull-down. For example: 32 ° C – 23 ° C = 9 ° C pull-down.

Blue surgeon (Paracanthurus hepatus)

Choose a chiller that can effectively cool the water in your aquarium in the place and during the assembly you have prepared. If there is enough power at a stretch to cool the aquarium, then we advise you to buy a larger and more powerful chiller to ensure the correct water temperature and the health of your aquarium inhabitants. Use the table below. If you have an 830 liter aquarium and need a 9 ° C headroom, then 1/5 and 1/4 horsepower settings will not work for you; you need a 1/3 horsepower rig. Most aquarists would advise purchasing more powerful chillers, especially since they require far less electricity to operate.

L. S.

In good chiller models, the heat sink and compressor are inseparably connected to each other, not in a flexible connection. Two metals that are primarily used in heat sinks are titanium and Teflon-coated copper. Titanium is expensive and not a very good heat conductor, but it is resistant to the corrosive effects of seawater. In case you are using Teflon coated copper, you will have to visually check your installation regularly. Any scratch or crack in the coating of the installation and copper will enter the aquarium, resulting in toxic contamination and possible death of your aquarium inhabitants.

Translation: Zooclub portal

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Aquarium size (l.) Max / min flow GPH Max. aquarium size in degrees or required pull-down value 15 ° F 20 ° F 25 ° F 1/4 290-1150 480-1200 320 175 110 80